Identifying Electronics

[Myrk-]

How do you identify what the pot is? I.e. 250k or 1000k or 25k? The pots in my guitar don't have any writing on them and are meant to be 25k, but I'm sure they aren't.

[Opencan]

take a resistance metter, turn them all the way on, and check.

easiest way i know. (and a simple multi metter costs about 10USD and is pretty usefull for everything)

[Calum_Barrow]

Yup, just use a meter. Get a multimeter if you don't have one already, it'll prove rather useful.

[thegarehanman]

It doesn't matter if they're turned up or not. Just put the multimeter leads on the outside terminals of the pot. A lot of pots have their value stamped on their back.

[AnthemBassMan]

-Yeah, just buy or borrow a multi-meter. Even my cheap Epi pots had the rating stamped into the back. Yours is probably just covered up with solder.

L8R,

Matt D.

[spacedace64]

I've also noticed on some pots that solder will cover the value. Make sure no solder is covering it. As for multimeters, I picked up a fairly nice one at walmart for $12. Had it a few years now.

[Myrk-]

Cheers guys, it'll help me in my revenge quest against a guitar shop down the road

[AnthemBassMan]

You might want to consider buying your new pots from someone like Black Rose Custom or RS Guitarworks. They match the pots they sell. So if you want to buy a set of four 500k pots, you'll get four pots guarenteed to be within 500k-540k. This is a lot better than the pots that came in my Epi. I measured them and they were ranging from 394k-510k. That's just a wee bit off. Or you could just head to your local shop and pick up some CTS pots. They may not be matched, but they'll be good quality. Btw, what kind of guitar are you working on?

L8R,

Matt D.

Edited November 21, 2005 by AnthemBassMan